Sweden says yes to terrorists

Okay, let’s see if we can follow this. First, Sweden said they’d grant a visa to Hamas members. Then, after Israel and others objected, Sweden said no. Now, they’re saying sure, we don’t mind if you’re a member of an organization that’s sworn to the destrucion of Israel and its replacement with an Islamic state, you’re welcome to visit our country anytime!

And when Israel objects, Sweden now says that none of the other European nations objected to granting the visa.

Prime Minister Goran Persson on Friday rejected criticism from Israel, France and domestic politicians over Sweden’s decision to grant a visa to a Hamas Cabinet minister – a move some say compromises the European Union’s tough stance on the terror-listed organization.

Atef Adwan, Hamas’ refugee minister, was granted the visa by the Swedish consulate in Jerusalem this week, allowing him to attend a conference in southern Sweden on Saturday, but also giving him entry to any of the 15 countries bound by the Schengen accords that allow for open border crossings.

The decision was harshly criticized by both Israel, which said it lent legitimacy to Hamas, and France, which recently rejected visa applications to other Hamas members because it is labeled a terrorist organization by the EU.

See, here’s what I don’t understand. Sweden is a member of the EU. The EU has labeled Hamas a terrorist organization. What, exactly, is the conflict?

Persson stood by the decision, saying all 15 Schengen members had been notified of the visa application and that none had objected to it. “I completely reject that kind of statements,” Persson told public broadcaster SVT of Israelistatements that Sweden was legitimizing Hamas. “This has followed the process it should follow … And it was done together with the other Schengen countries.”

Two things are wrong with this defense: First, “All of the other kids are doing it!” never worked when I was a teenager, and shouldn’t be a defense today. Secondly, if France is objecting, then apparently, all 15 Schengen signatories are not in agreement. I’m willing to bet you that the bureaucrats that run the visa offices are the ones that didn’t object, not the heads of state. A petty excuse for a petty-sounding man.

But there is an overarching problem here. The fact that Sweden thinks it’s fine and dandy to allow members of a terrorist organization — and I repeat, an organization that is declared to be terrorist by the EU, of which Sweden is a member — is the problem, here. Not any other nation’s objections. The root of the matter is that Sweden doesn’t have a problem granting visas to murderers.

But then, Sweden’s attitudes towards Jews have turned extremely dicey lately. I’m starting to be less surprised that polls show 40% of Swedes are anti-Semitic.